Brendan Ingle
Brendan Ingle | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 June 1940 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 25 May 2018 (aged 77) Sheffield, England |
| Known for | Training Johnny Nelson, Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, Kid Galahad |
| Relatives |
|
| Boxing career | |
| Weight | Middleweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 33 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Win by KO | 6 |
| Losses | 14 |
Brendan Ingle MBE (19 June 1940 – 25 May 2018)[1] was an Irish boxing trainer, manager, and former professional boxer based in Sheffield, England. He trained five world champions in total at his Wincobank gym, including Johnny Nelson, "Prince" Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, and Kid Galahad.[2]
Early life
Ingle was born in the Ringsend area of Dublin in 1940. He was one of 16 children of dock labourer Charlie (‘Hoppy’) Ingle and Sarah Ingle (née Lawless).[3]
Professional career
Ingle competed professionally as a middleweight from 1965 to 1973, with a record of 19 wins and 14 losses.[4] He unsuccessfully fought for the BBofC Central Area Middleweight title in October 1973 against Pat Dwyer.[4]
Training career
While living in Wincobank, Sheffield, England, Ingle was asked by a local vicar to carry out some community work because youth in the area were "running wild." He knew nothing but boxing, but he organised a weekly dance at St Thomas' church hall and the boxing gym St Thomas' Boys & Girls Club was opened.
Herol "Bomber" Graham, undefeated in ten years is what Ingle would call "the best person to come out of our gym," although perhaps Ingle is best known for being Naseem Hamed's mentor from the age of seven to 25. He has also trained former IBF Light Heavyweight titlist Clinton Woods and was the trainer of former WBC Light Welterweight titlist Junior Witter. He also was trainer of former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson. He lived in Wincobank, Sheffield, just across the road from his gym, St Thomas' Boys and Girls Club.
In total he has trained four world champions, six European, 15 British, and six Commonwealth champions. Ingle's fighters relied on footwork and reflexes for defence, leaving the hands free for offensive activity.
Honours
Ingle was awarded an MBE in 1998 for his services and contributions to British boxing and his work with young people in the Sheffield area.[5]
He received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University.
Personal life
Brendan's sons, Dominic and John, both run the Ingle Gym their father established.[6]
Ingle's eldest brother, Jimmy, was a famous Irish champion boxer. [3] His niece is Róisín Ingle, The Irish Times journalist.[3] He was also great-uncle of The Guardian sports journalist Sean Ingle.[2]
In August 2014, Ingle was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[7]
Death
Ingle died in May 2018 due to a brain hemorrhage at the age of 77. Upon his death, former student Johnny Nelson paid tribute to Ingle as "the best trainer in the world".[8]
Media portrayal
Ingle is played by Pierce Brosnan in the 2025 film Giant, about the relationship between him and Naseem Hamed.[2]
Professional boxing record
| 33 fights | 19 wins | 14 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 6 | 8 |
| By decision | 13 | 4 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Loss | 19–14 | Poul Knudsen | KO | 3 (6) | 1 Nov 1973 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| 32 | Loss | 19–13 | Pat Dwyer | PTS | 10 | 21 Oct 1973 | Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, England | For Central Area middleweight title |
| 31 | Win | 19–12 | Joe Gregory | KO | 3 (8) | 3 Jul 1973 | Burlington Hotel, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 30 | Win | 18–12 | Dave Nelson | PTS | 6 | 14 May 1973 | Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England | |
| 29 | Win | 17–12 | Mick Hussey | PTS | 8 | 30 Apr 1973 | Premier Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 28 | Win | 16–12 | Charlie Small | PTS | 8 | 6 Mar 1973 | Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, England | |
| 27 | Loss | 15–12 | Charlie Small | TKO | 5 (6) | 29 Jan 1973 | Great International Sporting Club, Nottingham, England | |
| 26 | Win | 15–11 | Billy Brooks | PTS | 6 | 15 Jan 1973 | Premier Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 25 | Win | 14–11 | Peter Mullins | KO | 4 (6) | 8 Jan 1973 | National Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 24 | Loss | 13–11 | Johnny Wall | PTS | 6 | 24 Apr 1972 | County Hotel, Bedford, England | |
| 23 | Loss | 13–10 | Fred Powney | TKO | 2 (8) | 13 Apr 1970 | Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England | |
| 22 | Loss | 13–9 | Tom Jensen | PTS | 6 | 2 Apr 1970 | Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark | |
| 21 | Loss | 13–8 | Chris Finnegan | TKO | 8 (8), 1:45 | 5 Aug 1969 | Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England | |
| 20 | Loss | 13–7 | Ronnie Hough | TKO | 3 (8) | 2 Jul 1969 | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 19 | Win | 13–6 | Dervan Airey | PTS | 8 | 19 May 1969 | Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, England | |
| 18 | Loss | 12–6 | Liam Dolan | DQ | 3 (8) | 26 Mar 1969 | Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, England | |
| 17 | Loss | 12–5 | Ronnie Hough | TKO | 2 (8) | 6 Feb 1969 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 16 | Win | 12–4 | Danny Ashie | PTS | 4 | 2 Jan 1969 | National Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 15 | Win | 11–4 | Don Reid | PTS | 6 | 25 Nov 1968 | Broadway Sporting Club, Manchester, England | |
| 14 | Win | 10–4 | Brian Bonsor | TKO | 6 (8) | 4 Nov 1968 | Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle, England | |
| 13 | Win | 9–4 | Maurice Thomas | PTS | 6 | 1 Oct 1968 | Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England | |
| 12 | Loss | 8–4 | Danny Ashie | TKO | 6 (8) | 18 Jul 1968 | Olympic Ballroom, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 11 | Win | 8–3 | Danny Ashie | PTS | 6 | 22 Apr 1968 | Grosvenor House, London, England | |
| 10 | Loss | 7–3 | Mick Cain | DQ | 5 (6) | 8 Apr 1968 | Hilton Hotel, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Peter Lane | PTS | 6 | 2 Apr 1968 | Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England | |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Chris McAuley | PTS | 6 | 27 Feb 1968 | Fiesta Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 7 | Loss | 5–2 | Liam Dolan | PTS | 6 | 11 Dec 1967 | Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Dave Derbyshire | PTS | 6 | 10 Oct 1966 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England | |
| 5 | Loss | 4–1 | Willie Turkington | TKO | 1 (6) | 8 Feb 1966 | Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Wesley Williams | TKO | 4 (6) | 21 Dec 1965 | Town Hall, Leeds, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dave Derbyshire | TKO | 4 (6) | 15 Nov 1965 | Wyvern Sporting Club, Manchester, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Miles Mitton | TKO | 4 (6) | 1 Nov 1965 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Dick Griffiths | PTS | 6 | 4 Oct 1965 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England |
References
- ^ "Brendan Ingle: World champion boxing trainer dies aged 77". BBC Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Ingle, Sean (13 January 2026). "Watching James Bond play my great uncle Brendan in Giant was surreal and spooky". theguardian.com.
- ^ a b c "Ingle, James John ('Jimmy')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. May 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ a b "BoxRec: Brendan Ingle". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "No. 55354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1998. p. 18.
- ^ "Boxing has lost a legend". The Guardian. 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Brendan Ingle: World champion boxing trainer dies aged 77". BBC Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.